European Parliament Hosts High-Level Event on Cancer Prevention through Physical Activity - UcanACT final event
On 11 June 2025, the Europe Region of World Physiotherapy organised a timely and impactful event at the European Parliament in Brussels, welcoming policymakers, health and economy experts, and cancer prevention advocates to discuss “Cancer Prevention through Physical Activity & Public Health Engagement – How Can Europe Act?”
Kindly co-hosted by MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Giorgos Georgiou, the meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to address the urgent need for integrated, accessible, and community-driven cancer prevention strategies.
Organised in partnership with the UcanACT Consortium, the session highlighted physical activity as a powerful tool for reducing cancer risk, particularly in Europe’s ageing populations. With projections indicating that cancer may become the EU’s leading cause of death by 2035 and healthcare workforce shortages looming, prevention has never been more critical.
Following opening remarks by the MEPs, a women-only panel of experts shared the latest data and policy insights:
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The Role of Physiotherapy in Cancer Prevention was presented by Nele Adriaenssens of the ERWP Cancer Working Group and Dr Caroline Speksnijder of UMC Utrecht;
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The EU Country Cancer Profiles Report, focusing on physical activity and prevention, was delivered by Caroline Berchet from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
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A session on prevention intersecting community engagement and public health approaches, including a review of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, was led by Alba Gil of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL).
The panel emphasised the significant role of physical activity in lowering cancer incidence.
The UcanACT Consortium then showcased its innovative grassroots initiative encouraging citizens - particularly older adults - to engage in preventive physical activity within urban green spaces. Fran Theron of ISCP provided an overview of the project and sustainable healthcare, followed by presentations from the three pilot territories: Munich (Germany) by Devin Bayer of OAC, Bologna (Italy) by Michele Cannone of AIFI, and Kilkenny (Ireland) by Janette Boran and Katherine Peacock of Kilkenny County Council.
The session concluded with insights into the project’s research dimension: Luis Mendoza Hernandez Sanahuja from the ONCE University School of Physiotherapy in Madrid shared quantitative analysis findings, while Esther Medrano Sánchez and Carmen Suárez-Serrano of the University of Sevilla presented evidence on the cost-effectiveness of physical activity for cancer prevention. The session was closed by the Europe Region of World Physiotherapy's project manager Emilia Kosińska, while the final remarks were provided by the Europe Region of World Physiotherapy Chairwoman, Esther-Mary D'Arcy.
The event fostered a rich dialogue on scalable prevention models, community engagement, and how physiotherapy professionals can strengthen Europe’s cancer prevention efforts.
A follow-up report summarising key takeaways and recommendations for policymakers will be published in the coming weeks. Access the event presentation slides here.
UcanACT event's presenters
